Table 5.
Characteristics of preterm infants with day 5 blood samples.
| No HCA n = 65 | HCA n = 31 | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean gestational age, weeks (range) | 29+4 (24+0-32+0) | 28+2 (23+2-32+0) | 0.030 |
| Mean birthweight, g (range) | 1246 (454-1915) | 1187 (500-2060) | 0.447 |
| Mean birthweight z-score (SD) | -0.3287 (1.23) | 0.1870 (0.69) | 0.010 |
| Male sex, n (%) | 37 (57) | 18 (58) | 0.916 |
| Antenatal steroids, n (%) | 61 (94) | 30 (97) | 0.546 |
| Antenatal magnesium sulphate, n (%) | 59 (91) | 30 (97) | 0.290 |
| Delivery mode, n (%): | |||
| Vaginal | 15 (23) | 23 (74) | <0.001 |
| Caesarean | 50 (77) | 8 (26) | 0.003 |
| -Pre-labor | 34 (68) | 8 (100) | 0.033 |
| -In labor | 16 (32) | 0 (0) | |
| Any labor, n (%) | 31 (48) | 23 (74) | 0.014 |
| Prolonged rupture of membranes, n (%) | 8 (12) | 14 (45) | <0.001 |
| Early onset sepsis, n (%) | 4 (6) | 4 (13) | 0.263 |
| Late onset sepsis, n (%) | 9 (14) | 4 (13) | 0.955 |
| Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, n (%) | 18 (28) | 12 (39) | 0.189 |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis, n (%) | 3 (5) | 5 (16) | 0.042 |
| Retinopathy of prematurity, n (%) | 3 (5) | 5 (16) | 0.042 |
Prolonged rupture of membranes: >24 hours before delivery. Sepsis: Positive blood culture with a pathogenic organism and/or antibiotic treatment course for ≥5 days. Early-onset sepsis: <72 hours after birth, late-onset sepsis: >72 hours after birth. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: supplemental oxygen therapy or respiratory support at 36 + 0 weeks gestational age. Necrotizing enterocolitis: medical treatment for ≥7 days or surgical treatment. Retinopathy of prematurity: requiring treatment.